Intertribal Timber Council

*REPOSTING DUE TO NUMBER MISTAKE ON GRAPHIC*

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has released its new report, Introduction to Tribal Forestry (R48934). While the report recognizes the immense importance of Tribal forestry across more than 19 million acres of Tribal forest lands, it also points to a deeper reality: the federal government continues to fall short of its trust responsibility to Tribal Nations.

When viewed alongside the findings from IFMAT-IV (Fourth Indian Forest Management Assessment Team), the picture becomes even clearer:

🔥 The Funding Gap
Tribes manage forests with only a fraction of the funding provided to the U.S. federal lands. For every dollar spent on federal forest lands, Tribal forests receive roughly 40 cents.

🌲 The Wildfire Crisis
41% of Indian forest lands are classified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential. Decades of underfunding for hazardous fuels reduction have left Tribes facing growing backlogs in thinning and forest treatment projects.

🌱 The Regeneration Backlog
IFMAT-IV identified a $313 million deficit in reforestation, stewardship, and forest development needs — a gap that continues to grow each year Tribal forestry programs remain underfunded.
The reality is this: Tribal forests are among the most productive and sustainably managed forests in the country, generating more jobs per acre and demonstrating world-class stewardship practices. Yet Tribal Nations continue to face systemic funding inequities.

Tribal forestry is approaching a breaking point.

It’s time to move beyond “introductions” and commit to true budget parity for Tribal Nations.

🔗 Read the CRS Report: https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48934
🔗 Explore IFMAT-IV Findings:https://online.flippingbook.com/view/719646412/

🔥 Speaker Spotlight: Kristen Lease
Kristen Lease is the Inventory & Planning Forester with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Midwest Regional Office, bringing over a decade of experience in forest inventory, planning, and silviculture. Previously, she worked in forestry and botany on Alaska’s Tongass National Forest and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Forest Resource Management program.
✨ Join Kristen at the 49th Annual National Indian Timber Symposium in Keshena, WI as she contributes to multiple workshops and field experiences focused on forest inventory, silviculture, and hands-on forest management.
🗓 Kristen will be part of:
🌲 Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) Training Workshop
🌲 Inventory & Silviculture Field Trip
🌲 Menominee & Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Forest Tour
These sessions will offer participants practical experience with forest inventory data collection, forest planning tools, treatment evaluation, and field-based learning across diverse Tribal forest landscapes.

🌲 Speaker Spotlight: Dan Grignon

Dan Grignon, an enrolled member of the Menominee Nation (Wolf Clan) and talented local artist, brings a unique perspective to the 49th Annual National Indian Timber Symposium.
Through his art, Dan explores how environmental changes reshape tribal landscapes, livelihoods, and cultural heritage, guided by the Menominee language and traditions. 🌿 He and his family create art from natural materials, following the seasons, and honor Menominee ancestors through quillwork, leatherwork, metalwork, beadwork, and wood carving.
🗓 Tuesday, June 9 | 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Panel 1: Changing Environment – Extreme Weather & Tribal Adaptation
🎤 Hear him speak alongside:
🌲Ally Scott, Deputy Midwest Tribal Resilience Liaison, College of Menominee Nation
🌲Wayne White, Former Logger & Production Manager, Primal Wood Products
🌲Melanie Whitney, Family Preservation Worker, Menominee Tribal Family Services

✨ Join us at the 49th Annual National Indian Timber Symposium in Keshena, WI to hear Dan share his experiences and insights on resilience, adaptation, and cultural stewardship.

🌲 Speaker Spotlight: Terry Baker

Terry Baker is the CEO of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) where he oversees all of SAF’s programs committed to the scientific sustainable management of America’s forests.

✨ Join us at the 49th Annual National Indian Timber Symposium in Keshena, WI to hear Terry speak on a panel session that spotlights two initiatives opening doors to careers in Tribal natural resource management – the Yakama Nation’s forestry-focused youth camp and the Society of American Foresters -Menominee Tribe media collaboration.

This panel will explore successful strategies for engaging the next generation, advancing sustainable forest management, and fostering an inclusive professional pipeline.

🗓 Tuesday, June 9 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Panel 2: Strategic Initiatives in Tribal Forestry
🎤 Hear him speak alongside:
🌲Alexandra Lister, Fuels GIS Forester, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
🌲Brian Kowalkowski, Dean of Department of Continuing Education, College of Menominee Nation

🔗 Register now: bit.ly/4tzlchq